Marra, Rose M., Joi L. Moore, and Aimee K. Klimczak. "Content analysis of online discussion forums: A comparative analysis of protocols." Educational Technology Research and Development 52.2 (2004): 23-40.

The article examines the crucial role of discussion forums in online education, highlighting their importance for fostering critical thinking, problem solving, and knowledge construction among instructors and students. Traditionally, the assessment of these forums has been dominated by quantitative measures like frequency counts. The study focuses on two different content analysis protocols for evaluating online discussion boards, applying them to a week-long student-led discussion. It offers a detailed guide on how to use these protocols and assesses their effectiveness, aiming to provide educators and researchers with robust tools for analyzing forum content.